He declined this week to discuss his retirement, instead directing The Star to a detailed memo he wrote that recounted his tenure.

In the memo, which he sent to the district’s board in February, he wrote that he was timing his retirement to coincide with the district’s recent move to new headquarters at 4201 Guardian St. in Simi Valley.

The move “will be transformational to the district, and I see this as a good time for me to do the same thing.”

“It has been my honor to serve the community and board of directors, and to work together productively with the many talented, hard-working and caring district employees,” he wrote. “The collective commitment has been inspirational. Significant accomplishments are achieved here every day.

“Quality recreation programming and well-maintained and safe parks are being provided to residents with great consistency,” he wrote.

The memo listed about 40 accomplishments the district has made in just the past four years. They included:

Saving $175,000 annually in district electricity bills after a contractor audited them and implemented utility rate changes.

Completing construction of the Challenger Baseball Field for youths with special needs.

“Looking back over just the last four years serves as an excellent reminder of what can be done when caring people work together toward the common goal of serving the community,” Peterson wrote.

Peterson initially intended to retire in 2013, but withdrew his resignation after the district’s assistant general manager gave notice of his retirement.

He said Tuesday the district is reviewing about 40 applications from candidates vying to succeed him and hopes to make a hiring decision in late June or early July.

“The expectation is that someone will start toward the end of July,” he said.

District board Chair Mark Johnson said Tuesday that whoever the board hires to succeed Peterson will have big shoes to fill.

“I have been on the board for 26 years and Larry is one of the finest general managers we’ve had,” Johnson said. “Larry has changed the park district immensely, bringing us from the 19th century to the 21st century in a lot of different ways.

“I mean, you can't ask for a better general manager than one who keeps you in the black every year.”

“He’s also been fiscally conservative all these years,” Johnson said. “I mean, you can’t ask for a better general manager than one who keeps you in the black every year, and providing the people of Simi Valley with one of the finest park districts in the state.

“What can you say? It will be hard to find someone with his qualities,” Johnson said. “All of our best wishes go with him.”